His eyes showed amusement when they met hers, and he moved to the other side of the bed and sat down beside her, the platter between them. He reached for it, cutting a wedge of cheese, a piece of pear and handing them to her. She ignored the immediate contrast with Aaron. She couldn’t imagine him ever taking care of her needs before his own. He would always order first, eat first, finish the last chip.
“Thank you,” she said, careful not to convey in her voice how much his simple act of consideration meant.
“That’s not how I thought tonight would go,” he said, and when she glanced at him, she saw his smile. Something flickered in her chest. Something dangerous and desperate.
“No?”
“We had an agreement.”
She pulled a face. “Let’s not talk about that right now. Or even think about it.”
His eyes shifted, a look of concern crossing his features. “You wish it hadn’t happened?”
She shook her head quickly. “No. I really don’t.”
His smile was blinding once more. She pressed a hand between her breasts, to try to lessen the sharp pain she was feeling there. He reached for some cheese and ate it himself this time. She finished hers then had a sandwich.
“I spoke to my cousin today,” he said, casually. Almost too casually.
“One of the people that was on that call yesterday?”
He nodded, once. “The oldest, Dante.” He hesitated for a beat. “They want to meet you.”
Her insides went all loopy and it must have shown on her face, because his expression showed sympathy.
“Too much?”
She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I—don’t know.” She frowned, her heart starting to race for a different reason now. “It just makes it very real.”
“It is real.”
“I know. But…six months ago, you know? I was meant to be marrying someone else. I had a whole other family of in-laws, I was a part of that. It feels weird to think of getting to know your family now. Knowing that the whole life I had planned out is gone.”
Now, his face gave nothing away. “Do you miss him?”
Elodie’s stomach twisted. Guilt made her answer quickly, without giving it enough thought. “I miss his friendship. We’d known each other a very long time. He was a part of my life, I was a part of his.”
Raf reached for a piece of cheese and pear, handed it to her. When Elodie took it, their fingertips brushed and sparks hummed through her.
“Do you miss her?”
Raf’s smile was tight now, haunted. “Not at all.”
“But you were together for years,” she prompted.
“I understand why she did what she did,” he said. “But it ruined everything. Even the good memories are tainted by what I now know she was capable of. I don’t miss her. And yet, I do hope she finds happiness one day. I never wanted to ruin her life.”
Elodie gasped. “You didnotruin her life.”
“Without meaning to…”
“Stop.” She reached over and pressed a finger to his lips. “Everyone makes choices, Raf. Hers was to want more than you offered and then try to manipulate you into giving it to her anyway. None of that is your fault. She could have left.”
“You could have left,” he pointed out.
It was like a right hook to her cheek. She felt it like a physical blow. “I…didn’t want to.”
His eyes narrowed, as if silently assessing that. “So, if he hadn’t ended things, you’d be married to him right now?”
